3 noses

Yep, still more from the EAA fly in.

As I said before, I like WW2 aircraft. The picture on the top has to be my favorite, the B-17G. Its not an original pick mind you, its one of the best known US bombers of the war (seen in many movies, Memphis Bell being one of the most notable). There is just something bout it, the way it looks, its outward ruggedness (and this was very much a rugged bomber).

The Next nose is a B-24 Liberator. This is the most highly produced bomber of WW2, about 18,100 were built, almost more than 10,000 more than the B-17. Know, unfortunately, for NOT being rugged, you can probably do a Google and find a few pictures of B-24's with their wings folded up like a butterfly and falling from the sky. However, it was a versatile aircraft, used also as a transport at times, and a close derivative of it, the PB4Y Privateer, was made just for reconnaissance.

The last nose is also a favorite of mine, and perhaps the finest bomber of WW2. The RAF's (and CAF's) Avro Lancaster. Also made famous in movies (The Dam Busters), the Lanc was an awesome machine. She carried a heavy payload, max being 22000 lbs. (the B-17 and 24’s was about 8000lbs.). The bellies of these planes were usually painted black, as the RAF did nighttime bombing over Germany (The USA did most of the daylight bombing). Another plane with rough good looks, sporting her jutting chin.

The Lancaster is actually the reason I went to the show this year. I have seen B-17's, B-29's and 24's a few times, I seen almost all of the major American Bombers of WW2, but the Lanc is something you don’t get to see much of. At the show they said there are a few B-17's left flying (17, or 27, forgot exactly). There are only 3 B-24's left flying, and there are only 2 Lanc's left flying, and they don’t do it too often (there are only so many safe hours to fly an airframe).

Sorry if I bored the piss out of all you. This was actually a longer post, but I cut it down.

(Note: The funky rainbow effect happens quite often when taking pictures of Plexiglas when you have a polarizer on your camera. It was not something that was added in Photoshop.)